No property tax for residential solar in Michigan
Governor Gretchen Whitmer (D) has signed three bulls which will together reinstate the property tax abatement that residential solar installations have been missing in the state since 2012.
‘Economic Curtailment’ – what it is and how to embrace it
In this op-ed for pv magazine, Morgan Putnam outlines a five-step process for renewable developers, environmental advocacy organizations and state agencies to embrace economic curtailment.
Massive solar project(s) in Florida, Enphase to supply Sunrun with inverters: pvMB 11/19/19
Hello one and all and welcome to the pvMB! Today we’ve got a big project approved in Michigan, a battery discussion at UMass Lowell, developments on the Buckthorn Westext solar lawsuit and more!
Old dog solar panel manufacturer, Panasonic, learning new home storage tricks
Panasonic recently launched their EverVolt home energy storage system, with an AC and DC coupled unit that easily can scale up to 34 kWh and, when coupled with their HIT solar modules, can power your home indefinitely if the grid goes down.
Calling all California solar and storage developers – 6,000+ systems, 32 MW+ request for proposals
Four California CCAs have combined to release a joint RFP in Alameda, San Mateo and Santa Clara counties for developers to build out distributed energy storage at local homes, multifamily properties, and commercial buildings that can keep the locations running when the grid is powered down.
Idaho Power renews attacks on net metering
The utility has proposed to state regulators a measure to decrease the rate that solar owners receive for their excess solar generation by 50% under the argument that net metering has failed to properly recover the costs incurred to serve customers with on-site generation.
Draft on extending and expanding ITC is expected to drop this week
The legislation is expected to propose extending the credit under terms similar to those that have been enjoyed for the last five years.
More claims of greenwashing at major US electric utilities
A survey reveals greenwashing among major U.S. investor-owned electric utilities, which have been accused of using disproportionately high ratios of renewable versus fossil fuel images and language, while at the same time helping to block renewable energy policies. pv magazine speaks to the lead researcher.
PURPA so good it hurts, still needed though
An analysis by a utility backed group suggests that the competitive market for solar power is producing better rates than the legally required PURPA marketplace, suggesting revisions to the pricing mechanism. Market activity suggests the political lever of the tool is still needed though, and the report has some issues.
PV module shipments spiked in September
The latest information from the U.S. Department of Energy shows module shipments rising above 1.5 GW in September. While imports were down slightly from an August high, they were joined by a higher level of exports and modules shipped within the United States.
